J. Lackington

Who a few Years since began business with five pounds now sells One hundred Thousand Volumes Yearly.

Published as the Act directs Dec 12.1793.

O F

The FORTY-FIVE FIRST YEARS

OF

The LIFE

O F

JAMES LACKINGTON,

The prefent Bookfeller in Chifwell-ftreet, Moorfields, London.
Written by Himself.

In FORTY-SEVEN LETTERS to a FRIEND.

With a TRIPLE DEDICATION.

1. To the PUBLIC.
2. TO RESPECTABLE
3. TO SORDID

SLE}

BOOKSELLERS.、

A

NEW

EDITIO N.

Corrected and much enlarged; interfperfed with many original
humorous Stories, and dro Anecdotes, not in foriner Editions;
to which is also added, an INDEX.

"The human race, a thousand vatiphs ways,
"Purfue the road to happiness and przifo
"Fancies, fo fingular, infpire each foul,
"Scarce would you think one artift made the whole.
"The flatteft dunce fome humour cannot hide,
"Which marks him out from all mankind befide;
"For in the mind as plainly as the face,
"Features peculiar to itself we trace.
"Though all, in many points, refemblance claim,
"No fingle pair are perfectly the fame.

"'Tis poffible the reader may inquire,
"To what diftin&tion I myself afpire."

LONDON:

Printed for the AUTHOR, No. 46 and 47, Chifwell-Street;
and fold by all other Bookfellers.

1795.

[Price 5s. 6d. in Boards.]

A TRIPLE DEDICATION.

1. TO THE PUBLIC.

"In things indiff'rent Reason bids us chufe,
"Whether the whim's a monkey or a muse.”

WORTHY PATRONS,

WE

CHURCHILL

ERE I to address

in

you the accustomed declamatory ftrain which has long been adopted as the universal language of dedications, viz. FLATTERY, I should not only merit your contempt, for thus endeavouring to impofe upon your understandings, but also render myself ridicu loufly confpicuous, by a feeble attempt to perform that, for which, as well by nature as long established habit, I am totally dif qualified.

On the other hand, I should efteem myself equally meriting your cenfure, as being guilty of a flagrant fpecies of ingratitude, were I to omit availing myself of fo favourable an opa 3 portunity

portunity as now presents itself of expreffing the refpect and veneration I entertain for you, resulting from the very extensive and ample encouragement with which you have crowned my indefatigable exertions to obtain your patronage, by largely contributing to the diffufion of fcience and rational entertainment, on fuch moderate terms as were heretofore unknown.

Permit me to indulge the pleafing hope, that when I affert my mind is deeply impreffed with the most grateful sense of the obligation, Ihall be honoured with credit. If this opinion be well founded, to enlarge on the fubject: Were fuperfluous-if otherwife, theftrongest arguments, the most fplendid and forcible language could convey, would not enfure conviction; I therefore defift, fully perfuaded that the most fatisfactory demonftration I can poffibly exhibit of the fincerity of this declaration, will be, an inviolable adherence to that uniform line of conduct which has already fecured your approbation to a degree eminent as unprece

dented